Latch for heddle frames



. une 30, 1936 J K JR 2,046,100

LATCH FOR HEDDLE FRAMES I Filed-Dec. 28, 1934 f Q .C L P; g 7e i L2 IWWW Q ,INVENTOR Jim Walker, J23.

Patented June 30, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LATCH FOR HEDDLEFRAMES Application December 28, 1934, Serial No. 759,439

4 Claims.

The object of the invention is to provide improvements in latches forheddle frames, and particularly in latches which are designed tooperatively support single heddle bars, both in relation with the frameitself and with respect to each other, as compared with latches whichare designed to operatively support a plurality of such bars in parallelrelation with one another.

In heddle frames which are generally of considerable length, it isnecessary to support the usual heddle bars at one or more pointsintermediate of their ends, in relatively fixed relation with respect tothe rails of the said frames, yet the support must be of such characteras to permit the heddles carried by said bar to be readily shifted pastthe positions of such supporting means, whenever and in such number asmay be desired.

In the usual latch or hook by which single heddle bars are operativelysupported, there is inclined to be more or less play or looseness, withthe result that rods become badly worn and finally break under the rapidvibration of the frame and the tension of the heddles. By contrast, thepresr ent form of latch clamps a single bar so positively and securely,that relative movement between the latch and bar is prevented, withresulting prevention of wear and consequent breaking of the bar. On theother hand, if the nut which serves to normally secure the latch partsin positive, fixed and locked relation should accidentally becomeloosened, the spring which is then interposed between the nut andadjacent latch part operates as an auxiliary safeguard, to prevent thelatch from opening and releasing the bar as would otherwise be possible,with probably disastrous results to the fabric being produced by theloom.

Another object, briefly stated, is to provide in the present invention acombined simplification of an improvement over certain earlierstructures in the particular art involved, making use of details whichhave proved of distinct value, and

, adding to them the cooperation of additional desection, and providedwith a cut-out recess upon one lateral side adapted to receive a heddlebar inserted laterally thereinto, in combination with a substantiallycylindrical sleeve having a notch extending longitudinally inwardly fromits nor- 5 mal outer end and adapted to receive the bar,

as the sleeve slides upon and towards the free end of the shank, saidsleeve being also provided with a teat or other suitable radiallyextending oiiset, slidably engageable within a groove which 10 extendslongitudinally in a convenient portion of the surface of said shank, toprevent axial movement of said sleeve upon said shank, the upper end ofsaid shank (as viewed in the detailed figures of the drawing) beingreduced to provide a shoulder, which cooperates with a radially inwardlyextending flange or reduced portion of the sleeve to limit relativemovement of the two members longitudinally in one direction, incombination with a spiral or other suitable spring to yieldingly forcethe sleeve towards the free end of the shank, and a nut carried by andin threaded engagement upon the upper portion of said shank, andprovided in its normal lower portion (as viewed in the drawing) with arecess to receive said spring, when said nut is employed to positivelymaintain said sleeve in outer operative position, and said nut whenspaced from said sleeve being operative thru said spring to adjustablyvary the tension upon said spring, and thereby the force with which saidsleeve is held against the heddle bar supported thereby.

Herein when reference is made to the outward or inward movement of thesleeve, adjustable nut, and any other parts of the device, it is to beunderstood that such reference is made in lieu of such terms as upperand lower which latter strictly speaking apply only to the position ofthe latch as shown in Figs. 2 to 6, since in each loom harness similarlatches are positioned opposite thereto in inverted position.

With the foregoing objects in mind, the invention comprises furtherdetails of construction and. operation, which are brought out in thefollowing description, when read in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawing, in which Fig. l is an elevational view of a heddle frame inwhich are employed a pair of supporting latches comprising oneembodiment of the invention, he upper of said latches being in dependingposition, while the other latch of the pair is in inverted or uprightposition;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

sleeve in retracted position, to permit the removal of the heddle bar;and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary View, showing the spring and a portionof the shank in ele-' vation, and adjacent portions of the nut andsleeve in section.

Referring to the drawing, a heddle frame is here shown as comprisingparallel, oppositely positioned top and bottom rails l and 2, connectedat their ends by any suitable means such as straps; 3.

Singleheddle bars and extend longitudinally of the frame parallel withand slightly spaced from their respectively adjacent rails l and 2, andoperatively support corresponding series of heddles 5, only portions ofwhich series are shown. In describing the present invention, referencewill be made only to the upper rail 8 and the latch or latches supportedthereby, as the lower rail and latches are: but duplicates of theformer.

The rail l is provided with a bore i into which extends the, reduced endportion 8 of a. latch shank 9, said reduced end portioneitherterminating within and being in adjustable. threaded engagementwith the walls of said bore, or extending completely thru said bore andin such case being held in longitudinally adjusted position, in any wellknown manner. In the case of the latter construction it has beencustomary to operatively secure the shank in desired position by meansof' suitable nuts-upon said shank, in. binding engagement with theopposite surfaces of the intervening rail. This construction. ismentioned merely to show that/the exact manner of support and adjustablypositioning of the latch shank is no part of the present invention.

In that embodiment of the invention here shown, the intermediate portionof the. shank is threaded as shown at it, while the free end portion'of'said shank comprises a radially enlarged headli of substantiallycylindrical cross sectil tion, separated from the said intermediatethreaded portion by a circumferential shoulder Y l2,'said head beingalso provided with a cut-out head, is slidably mounted with respect tothe lat- 'ter and providedat its upper end with a radially inwardlyextending flange H, which cooperates with the shoulder E2 to limit' themovement of said'sleeve upon said head in one direction, but

permits a sufficient degree of movement to allow the innermost walls 58of slots 19, extending inwardly from the outer free end of said sleeve,to engage in. binding relation. the adjacent edge portion of the heddlebar 4. Said slot is centrally positioned transversely of the outer endof said sleeve, and provides a retaining tongue or the like 20, tonormally overhang and operatively se- 7 cure said bar within the recessi3.

A coil spring 2! preferably surrounds the intermediate portion 9 of theshank and at one end bears against the flanged end "of the sleeve l6,while its opposite end bears against the innermost relatively planularsurface 22 of a hollow cylindrical nut 23, which at 24 is adjustablysecured to the threaded portion H] of said shank. 5 In the position ofsaid nut shown in Figs. 4 and 6, the pressure of the spring 2| beingrelatively light permits the sleeve Hi to be raised into the 7 positionshown in Fig. 5, to; permit the lateral transverse removal of the bar 4lateral of the recess i9. On the other hand, when the nut 23 is screweddown into an intermediate position, much" greater tension is placed uponsaid spring and consequently upon said sleeve, while screwing the nut 23into its lowermost position as shown. in Fig. 2, serves to positivelylock said sleeve against upward movement, andbinding the same into fixedoperative position, whereby the bar 4 is rigidly gripped and heldagainst either transverse, vertical or even. longitudinal movement withrespect to saidlatch.

In order to prevent said sleeve from rotating or in fact moving evenslightly angularly about the axis of said latch head H, and therebyshifting the slots 59 out of angular alignment with the recess l3, saidhead is provided at any suitable point with a longitudinally extendinggroove 25 into which projects the. inner end of a teat 26 with whichsaid sleeveis' provided, as shown in detail in Fig. 3.

In the operation of this device the parts are assembled as shown in thedrawing, but'initially with the nut 23 in raised position, as shown inFigs. 4 and 6. The sleeve may then be raised'into the position shown inFig. 5, to permit the insertion of the bar i in the slot l3, after whichthe spring automatically forces thesleeve into its lower operativeposition, where it is heldby said spring to a degree depending upon theforce applied to the spring by means of and in accordance with theposition of the nut upon the threaded portion of said shank. Said cap isthen screwed down into its operativelowermost position, as shown in Fig.2, in order to maintain said sleeve rigidly in. operative position, ashereinbe- 'fo-re described. In order to remove the bar from the recessE3, the reverse operation is performed,

thereby upon raising said nut permitting, said sleeve to be movedagainst the tension of said spring in the upper position. as shown inFig. 5, whereupon the bar may be removed laterally at will.

Havingthus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:--

1. A latch for heddle frames, comprising a' r cylindrical shank, anenlarged cylindrical head providing an annular shoulder and providedwith a recess, and a cylindrical sleevejslidable upon said head andcomprising a tongue adapted to engage and retain a heddle bar insaidrecess, said sleeve being also provided with an annular flangesurrounding said shank and engageable with said shoulderto limit themovement of said sleeve in one direction." j

2. A latch for heddle frames, comprising a cylindrical shank, anenlargedcylindrical head providing. an annular shoulder and providedwith a recess, a cylindrical sleeve slidable upon said head andcomprising a tongue adapted to engage and retain a heddle bar'in saidrecess, said sleeve being also provided with an annular flangesurrounding said shank and engageable with said shoulder to limit themovement of said sleeve in one direction, a spring normally forcing saidV sleeve towards the free end of said head, and a nut in threadedengagement with said shank, operative to vary the tension upon saidspring and in one position being directly engageable with said sleeve,to lock said sleeve against the release of a heddle bar in said recess.

3. A latch for heddle frames, comprising a cylindrical shank, anenlarged cylindrical head providing an annular shoulder and providedwith a recess, and a cylindrical sleeve slidable upon said head andcomprising a tongue adapted to engage and retain a heddle bar in saidrecess, said sleeve being also provided with an annular flangesurrounding said shank and engageable with said shoulder to limit themovement of said sleeve in one direction, said sleeve being splined uponand to prevent its rotation with respect to said latch.

4. A latch for heddle frames, comprising a cylindrical shank, anenlarged cylindrical head providing an annular shoulder and providedwith a recess, a cylindrical sleeve slidable upon said head andcomprising a tongue adapted to engage and retain a heddle bar in saidrecess, said sleeve being also provided with an annular flangesurrounding said shank and engageable with said shoulder to limit themovement of said sleeve in one direction, said sleeve being splined uponand to prevent its rotation with respect to said latch, a springsurrounding said shank and engaging said flange, to normally force saidsleeve towards the free end of said head, and a nut in threadedengagement with said shank, operative to vary the tension upon saidspring and in one position being directly engageable with said flange,to lock said sleeve against the release of a heddle bar in said recess.

JOHN WALKER, JR.

